Fast Facts on Mental Health in Singapore 51% of mental illness patients suffer from a chronic physical illness, because there is a link between the twoDepression, alcohol abuse and obsessive compulsive disorder are the top 3 most common disorders in Singapore29 The age at which the majority of mental illnesses occur5.8% of the adult population in Singapore has suffered from depression at some point in their lives Symptoms of top 3 disorders Depression: loses interest in daily life, has feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of suicide Alcohol Abuse: has to drink more and more alcohol to feel its effects as tolerance for the substance increases, experiences sweating and other withdrawal symptoms when not drinking Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Obsessive: has persistent and irrational thoughts, impulses or images that cause anxiety or distress like an overwhelming fear of germs and dirt Compulsive: repeats actions like checking and rechecking locks several times over Treatment Stay Positive Start smiling to lift your mood Ref.
‘Crazy, weird, scary’: Survey unveils negative labels youths associate with mental illness SINGAPORE — Researchers have called for regular and compulsory education on mental health for youths, in the wake of a study that found a large proportion of this group having misconceptions of mental illness. Almost half (44.5 per cent) of 940 teenage students polled attached negative and pejorative labels to people with mental illness. “Crazy”, “weird”, “scary”, “stupid” and “dangerous” were among the words that came to mind then the respondents heard the term “mental illness”, reported the study, which was presented at the Frontiers in Mental Health symposium organised by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Nanyang Technological University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine on Tuesday (March 6). Some 46.2 per cent of the respondents, who were aged between 14 and 18, also said they would be “very embarrassed” if they were diagnosed with a mental illness, while nearly a quarter (22.7 per cent) said they would not want others to know if their relative were mentally ill.
The stigma of depression: Those who suffer in silence SINGAPORE: When Madam Junainah Eusope was first diagnosed with depression almost 15 years ago, shame was the first thing she felt. “I asked the doctor what illness I had, and he said it was a mental illness. And that’s when it hit me,” she recounted. “I used to visit patients in Woodbridge Hospital, and I used to laugh at them. Was I now one of them?” she said. Life was not easy for Mdm Junainah and her family. She did not dare look for work, as she was worried that the stress would cause her to have a relapse. Mdm Junainah’s diagnosis is not uncommon: according to statistics from the Institute of Mental Health, more people have been coming forward to seek treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), or clinical depression. The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) saw about 1,800 new patients diagnosed with MDD last year, an increase of about 7 per cent from 2014. “If they apply for a job, they’re also unlikely to declare their condition to the employer,” she added.
More people in Singapore have experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, study finds SINGAPORE — One in seven people in Singapore have experienced a mental disorder such as bipolar disorder or alcohol abuse in their lifetime, an increase from roughly one in eight several years ago. The top three mental disorders here were major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse and obsessive compulsive disorder. This is based on the finding of the second Singapore Mental Health Study, which started in 2016 and involved interviews with 6,126 Singaporeans and permanent residents. Read also Gen Y Speaks: What caring for my mum taught me about mental illness The lifetime prevalence of 13.9 per cent in 2016 marked an increase from 12 per cent in 2010, when the first study was conducted. Depression was the most common mental disorder, with one in 16 people in Singapore having the condition at some point in their lives. One in 24 people experienced alcohol abuse, while one in 28 people suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder. But those who had sought help were doing so earlier.
Getting Help - Over The Rainbow Child Guidance Clinic (CGC)Offers mental health and educational services for children and youths up to 19 years of age. Most patients are experiencing emotional and behavioural problems requiring professional intervention, not mental illnesses. Locations: Child Guidance Clinic (CGC), Health Promotion Board (HPB) Second Hospital Avenue, #03-01, Singapore 168937 Tel: 6389 2220 Email: hpb@imh.com.sg Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am–5pm Sunrise Wing, Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) National Healthcare Group Polyclinics: Singhealth Polyclinics: Adam Road Medical CentreA private psychiatric clinic with a professional staff (psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and counsellors) offering outpatient evaluation and treatment services for emotional distress and mental illnesses.
7 Avenues to Get Help In Singapore For Mental Health Issues According to a study done by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in 2010,12% of Singapore's population has had mental health disorders in their lifetime. It led me to think about what I would do if a friend of mine was struggling with a mental health issue. As a Singaporean, I was disappointed to find out that I actually have no idea where someone can get help if they have a mental health issue. Searching on the internet gave me only a few options, which I felt was insufficient. So after further research online and talking to a few mental health therapists, I decided to write this article to answer the following question: How to get help in Singapore for mental health issues? I am not only referring to people with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, severe anxiety or depression. 7 places to get mental health support in Singapore 1 ) Private GPs/ Family doctors 2 ) Polyclinic GPs in polyclinics can also refer you to a mental health specialist in a public hospital. 3) Hospitals
Community Facilities 21 Ways to be a Good Friend for Someone With a Mental Illness Friendships can be vital for getting through the hard times life inevitably throws at us. If you need to cry, laugh or forget about your worries for a little while, friends are an important support system. For those who live with mental illnesses, this social support can be especially important. Friends keep us grounded and can provide the connection we need to remind us we’re worth having around. We asked people in our community who live with mental illnesses to tell us what makes a good friend. Here’s what they told us: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. *Answers have been edited and shortened for brevity.
OCD in top three mental disorders, sufferers seeking help later Study shows Obsessive Compulsive Disorder affects one in 28 people here and sufferers are delaying treatment longer Afraid that someone would break into his house, he would check the locks on his front gate and door. He was so anxious about making a mistake and letting a burglar slip through that he would repeat this 50 to 60 times. "He would end up not being able to do anything else because he would be terribly late for appointments. "It came to a point where he seldom could make it for work," said senior psychologist at The Therapy Room Lawrence Tan, 40. He was describing the debilitating effect an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can have on a sufferer. His comments came in the wake of the latest national mental health study, which showed that OCD remains one of the top three mental illnesses here. It affects one in 28 people living here in their lifetime, behind alcohol abuse (one in 24) and depression (one in 16).
OCD is poorly understood and public awareness about the signs and symptoms, which can be hard to recognise, is lacking. NCSS - What we can do to address stigma The Movement’s desired outcomes for employers are: Provide a safe and supportive environment for disclosure Adopt more inclusive hiring practices and put in place workplace accommodations Equip colleagues with confidence and knowledge to support persons with mental health conditions In May 2018, a WorkWell Leaders Workgroup comprising private and public sector leaders was formed to champion workplace wellbeing as a leadership priority. As its first collective action, the workgroup rallied employers to support the Beyond the Label campaign in the workplace on 10 October 2018, World Mental Health Day. These employers also pledged their commitment to the cause beyond the day. If you would like to find out more or be part of this movement, please contact the Mental Health Services team at ncss_mental_health@ncss.gov.sg.
Many still steer clear of people with mental illness: Poll, Singapore News Even as more people are seeking outpatient treatment at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), more than five in 10 respondents in a recent survey indicated they are unwilling to live with, live nearby or work with a person with a mental health condition. The survey, which is the first of its kind by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), found that most people agree that more needs to be done to reduce societal stigma, yet they are also reluctant to accept them on an individual level. In the survey of 1,796 people conducted last year, six in 10 people said they believe that mental health conditions are caused by a lack of self-discipline and willpower, while half believe that persons with mental health conditions should not be given any responsibility. But seven in 10 respondents acknowledged that persons with mental health conditions experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives, and eight in 10 said they believe the best therapy is for them to be included in society.
People with mental issues face job discrimination, Singapore News The hallucinations and delusions started in her late teens. Then five years ago, Ms Hafizah Kamarulzaman was diagnosed with schizophrenia after giving birth to her son. While the single mother, now 23, managed to control her condition after seeking help, she struggled to get a job for almost four years, she told The Sunday Times. She described how she was turned down for positions in the food and beverage and healthcare sectors, on the sidelines of an event called "Walk with Us, Stamp out Stigma". It was held in Orchard Road yesterday to combat the stigma faced by people with mental health conditions. She said: "When the boss saw in my application form for a waitressing job that I had a mental illness, he asked what would happen if I had a relapse. "His response was, 'If that's the case, then our position is full'." FACING OUTRIGHT REJECTIONWhen the boss saw in my application form for a waitressing job that I had a mental illness, he asked what would happen if I had a relapse.